In an apparent retaliation for Tuesday's suicide bombing in Jerusalem that killed 20 people, an Israeli helicopter gunship on Thursday fired five missiles at the car of Ismail Abu Shanab, a senior Hamas official, killing him on the spot

The militant Palestinian outfit immediately declared the unilateral ceasefire that it had declared June 29 was cancelled. It also threatened retaliation.

"We consider ourselves free from this ceasefire," said a Hamas official, Ibrahim Hanieh.

There was no immediate comment by the Israeli military. In the past, Israel has repeatedly killed wanted Palestinians in targeted missile attacks. Israel had suspended the practice after militants declared the truce.

An Israeli foreign ministry official, Gideon Meir, said, "There's no question that there is a direct link between the heads of Hamas and the terrorists on the ground."

Agencies